//------------------------------// // Chapter 24, Twins, Part 1 // Story: The Chronicles of Summer Rain // by shysage //------------------------------// [Hi, this is Shysage. While Summer was trying to rescue her Princess, a different tune became clearly audible in the background. I could not immediately place it, and I was admittedly overwhelmed by the events I was trying to record (Ch. 21). However, for this extended section, with time crawling very slowly, and as life seemed to be snatched back from the void, I clearly placed the tune as it grew louder. It was the "Faded Memories*" song from Promyvion* in Vana'diel*. This doleful tune drifted hauntingly through the events in this entire chapter, and the next few as well. *c 2014 by Square Enix I apologize again for the interruption.] After the incident with Shining Armor, it was quiet for a few minutes. Summer Rain needed to say something, she just wasn't sure how to say it. So she just said it. "Princess Twilight, we have five special ponies to rescue." At this, the Equestria Girls all gathered around. Summer continued a little more softly "You are the Princess, and I want to respect your leadership. I just--" Princess Twilight jumped in immediately at this point. "Summer Rain, I am delegating leadership over that task to you. You are much better able to handle this than I am at present." Summer bowed, and said "Yes Princess, I will. Please do not hesitate to say something should you feel it helpful or necessary however." "And Summer" Princess Twilight continued "We need to rescue Zecora too." Twilight put her head down and said slowly "Sunset Shimmer has the Alicorn Amulet as well. Discord tortured Zecora until she gave it to him." Summer said "Applejack first" and so they headed to Sweet Apple Acres. It was a bit if a walk, and Summer kept Applejack and Rainbow on either side of Princess Twilight in case she needed any help. Summer soon realized she didn't need to do this, all the Equestria Girls never moved far from their Princess now. Even so, Princess Twilight was slowly getting stronger. Near the entrance to the barnyard, Summer called Applejack to her side. "Applejack, I think you will nee--" Applejack saw her Twin on her tombstone at this point and simply bolted off towards her. "Girls come quickly please." Summer said as she galloped off after her. Princess Twilight said "Go girls, Applejack needs you." Applejack didn't need any coaching. Usually very stoic, Equestria Girls Applejack immediately ran to her Twin, and held her, simply crying as she stood there. The same process repeated itself in slow motion with some variation. The tombstone teetered, then shrank into the ground. Applejack shrank to her normal size and screamed, then simply fell into her Twin's arms crying. These six ponies assumed their Equestria Girls form, and again just held Applejack up as she cried. Equestria Girls Applejack was standing next to her Twin's head, and she leaned close, and simply comforted her, talking to her, helping her through her pain. Equestria pony Applejack heard her own voice coaching her through her agony, back to the land of the living. She wanted to know who this other Applejack was. Equestria pony Applejack cried for a few minutes, then stopped. Then she said "Man that hurt." Then she looked up at Equestria Girls Applejack and said "Who are you?" ...only to have her Twin burst into tears of joy, and the rest of the Equestria girls cried now as well. After a few minutes, they set Applejack down on the ground, and the Equestria Girls all backed away 10 feet or so, turning back into ponies again... ...except for Rarity who repaired, then properly placed the Shield Necklace back around Applejack's neck, after which she threw herself down and turned back into a pony as well. Then, Equestria Girls Applejack walked slowly up to her Twin, sat down in front of her and just hugged her. They were both soon 'bawlin' like babies' as Applejack would say. After a few minutes, Princess Twilight walked up, and Equestria Girls Applejack immediately sensed her presence, and backed away bowing. Princess Twilight had tears in her eyes, and walked up to Applejack and just held her as they both cried together. The friendship Princess Twilight had shared with these five special ponies in Equestria over many seasons, simply could not be replaced, and everyone, everypony knew that. After maybe ten minutes, both Applejacks headed up the hill to rescue the Apple family. "Land sakes, there's two of ya now" Granny Smith said. "I can't tell ya apart no how." Apple Bloom was smiling "I have two sisters!" Applejack told her kin to stay put for now, then both Applejacks headed back down the hill. While the Apples were being rescued, Summer took to the air and quickly located Rainbow's tombstone. It was at Summer's tree. Before moving to Rainbow's tombstone, Summer called all the girls together. "Equestria Girls, I need to hear from you. We haven't talked in a while, I need to know how you are doing in this nightmare." After a slight pause, Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Rainbow Dash said almost at the same time "I want my Twin back..." Fluttershy was standing next to Summer and simply put her head on Summer's neck; they both wanted Summer's sister back. Summer next said very quietly "Equestria Girls I have thanked you all for coming before... I NEEDED you each to come. But I think each of you are the ONLY ones that can raise your Twins. And if you had not come, they would have been lo--" and Summer could go no further. Princess Twilight finished for her, and said softly "Equestia Girls, these five ponies that we are rescuing now are at the heart of my being. I could never live without even one of them. Summer is probably correct that each of you dear girls alone can raise your 'Twins'. From the bottom of my heart, you have my thanks for this." Applejack was at Princess Twilight's side at this point, and the five Equestria Girls simply group hugged them both. After a few minutes, Summer said softly "Rainbow's tombstone is at my tree, she's next. Let's go." On the way to 'Summer's Tree', Equestria Girls Rainbow Dash walked next to Summer and said quietly "Summer, I'm scared. I can't just turn on crying like the others. I just don't know how it will work." Summer stopped, and put her leg around Rainbow, and hugged her close. Then she said quietly "I think the others will help you. But I know you need your Twin to help you be the awesome flyer I know you can be." They were soon at Summer's Tree. Rainbow Dash's tombstone was right in front of it. Summer's eyes teared up because she realized that Rainbow must have been here when Discord found her... ...maybe waiting for a rescue that never came... ...until now. True friends whose hearts beat as one don't always need to be told what to do. Princess Twilight walked up and lay down on her belly at the base of Rainbow's tombstone, and wept bitterly, joined quickly by Equestria pony Applejack. Summer joined them immediately. The rest of the Equestria girls followed. Rainbow walked over and touched her Twin. And the flood gates broke open, and she wailed uncontrollably... Forcing herself away, Summer got up and warned the Equestria Girls, saying simply "get ready girls". They felt the tremor, and waited for the stone to rock forward slightly. Rainbow backed up and quickly caught her screaming Twin, and Equestria pony Rainbow Dash was quickly in the arms of Summer and the Equestria Girls, who were standing up as people, holding her. Having watched Applejack, Rainbow just talked quietly to her Twin, helping them all bring her back to life. Rainbow cried an amazingly short time. Then she flipped upright in their arms, looked at Equestria Girls Rainbow Dash and said "Are you my Twin?" Equestria Girls Rainbow cried like a baby too at this point, and said "Yes" as best as she could. Equestria pony Rainbow then lunged forward to get her legs around her Twin's neck to hug her, and knocked Equestria Girls Rainbow over, and the Equestria Girls all turned back into ponies, and fell in a pile, but quickly got up. Rainbow and her Twin were sitting there hugging and crying. Princess Twilight picked up the Shield Necklace, and used her magic to repair the broken strap. After a few minutes she walked up to Equestria pony Rainbow Dash, and Equestria Girls Rainbow quickly backed off with a bow. Princess Twilight placed the Shield Necklace back on Rainbow's neck, and they both cried together. Equestria pony Applejack soon joined them, and they cried together for a little while. Princess Twilight was getting her girls back. And it seemed like for each of her girls they rescued, their Princess got a little stronger. Skirting Fluttershy's cottage by a wide margin, they headed to Rarity's shop. Rarity's tombstone was behind the shop so they went back there. It was dead quiet, everyone knew what to do. Rarity first pointed to the Shield Necklace and asked Twilight to hold it for her. "Please let me put it around her neck though Princess" Rarity said with a bow. Rarity was already crying. Rarity walked up to the tombstone and held her Twin's leg, still crying profusely. Rarity waited for the tremor and slight shift, then simply put up her legs and waited, still crying. Equestria pony Rarity screamed, and it was gut wrenching. Equestrial Girls Rarity caught her twin, who was also soon in the arms of Summer and the five Equestria Girls, who were standing up as people do. Equestria pony Rarity kept screaming. For five minutes or so, this continued. Gut-wrenching screams too. Then she stopped abruptly and started just weeping. Equestria Girls Rarity began talking to her at this point, helping to bring her twin back. Before long they were both simply weeping together, almost in unison. It was eery. Equestria pony Rarity stopped crying briefly, and looked at Equestria Girls Rarity and said calmly "You are my Twin aren't you." Equestria Girls Rarity said simply "yes", and they just continued weeping together for a while longer. Equestria Girls Rarity asked her friends to carefully put Rarity down. They did, and then all turned back into Ponies... ...except for Rarity. Equestria Girls Rarity walked over and took the Shield Necklace from Princess Twilight with a bow. She then took her own Dog Tag off, and put the Shield Necklace around her own neck. She then gently put her Dog Tag on Equestria pony Rarity, and kissed her forehead. And only then threw herself forward and resumed her Pony form. And then walked up and simply hugged her Twin, and they began weeping again. Summer Rain realized they were honoring each other's fashion creations, and began weeping herself. After maybe five minutes, Princess Twilight and the other two Equestria ponies Rainbow and Applejack walked up to their friend. Equestria Girls Rarity backed away with a bow, and Princess Twilight and her friends simply hugged and cried together for a while. Then Rarity and her Twin went inside the shop and rescued Sweetie Belle, who was likewise amazed that it seemed like she had two sisters now. Summer suggested that they both quickly take Sweetie Belle to Dawn's shop, and they agreed. Rarity was suprised to find just Sunny Rays there, but Camille was more than happy to have Sweetie Belle over, and Sunny assured them she expected Dawn any moment. Summer had basically ignored the two guards that Shining Armor had left with them. As she turned around now though, she gasped to see over 20 guards off in the distance spread around them. No Green eyes though. The ranking guard noted Summer's concern, and walked over and said calmly "No need for alarm miss, we are trying to stay out of your way. Just let us know if you need anything. Summer thanked him and he went back out to the perimeter. The Cake's shop was not far from Rarity's shop. Pinkie's tombstone was likewise out behind the shop. Before heading there, Summer decided to talk to Pinkie to see if she was up to this. Before she could even call her over, Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie said "Summer, I'm on it." "Both Pinkies are amazing" Summer thought to herself. Pinkie Pie walked over to her Twin and held her leg, crying buckets, and through her tears, she just about demanded that Pinkie come back. "Equestria needs you Pinkie, come back!" Pinkie said this three or four times. Pinkie caught her Twin, who also screamed a few times, but then just cried quietly. Equestria Girls Pinkie was not crying at this point, but said carefully but clearly to her Twin "Pinkie, it is not time to celebrate yet, there is still work to do first. But with you back it will be EPIC when it is time." Indeed. Equestria pony Pinkie Pie simply replied "Ok", and cried quietly a little more. Equestria Girls Pinkie Pie cried with her too at this point. Both Pinkie Pies were soon facing each other as ponies, crying softly on each other's shoulder. Equestria Girls Rarity walked over in Equestria Girls form with the repaired Shield Necklace in her hand. Both Pinkies said in unison "Rarity can you switch our necklaces too please?" Rarity did this, and there were tears in Rarity and her Twin's eyes as well. After a while, Princess Twilight walked over with the rest of her girls, except Fluttershy, and they all cried together. This special bond... Soon, both Pinkies went in and rescued the Cake's, who quickly rescued their foals who were very very hungry. They appeared to be ok otherwise however. This just underscored in Summer's mind that they had to end this nightmare as quickly as possible. As is usually the case, the foals were suffering the most from this ordeal. Zombie ponies don't care for their young. One Equestria pony left, Summer Rain's own sister, Fluttershy. Summer was terrified.